The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-05-26

Blanche was an exacting and impar
tient little teacher, but Andre was so
bright and eager that in FIVE
months he had almost reached this
limit of Blanche's own small acquire
ments. She had grown extremely
fond of the handsome lad, SO ready
and willing to amuse her; and as for
him, he was her abject slave. All dis
tinctions of rank were forgotten in
this pleasant compaDionship 50 soon
to cease
One morning the Count returned I'M
expectedly from Paris. ''Where IS
Blanche?" he asked Madame Duloc:
''MadenoiselIe is out in the
grounds" she said, TREMENDOUSLY. Il
have sent Celine for her,
Without you, Madame Duloc!" he
said, sternly; "do you tell me my
Daughter is allowed to wander about
alone?''
"Ah, mon Dieu, but she will let no
ore follow her" the poor governess
cried. desperately.
''Since you cannot control the
Countess. madame, allow me to tell
YEN, your services are no longer need
ed at Beaujolais." The Count strobe
off in search Of his daughter in ter
rible fury: It did not lessen when. aft
eY q half-hour's search, she was not
to be found. When near the lake, he
heard voices and laughter in tho little
summer house.
Pushing open the door, he saw a
sight which nearly struck him dumb.
Side by side ON the bench sat the rep
80 ~e L. nrnl
a peasant boy. they were bending
over the same book, and the golden
curls of Blanche mingled with the
black hair of her companion.
"Blenche!" cried the Count, in a
voice OF thunder:
The little girl sprane to her feet,
turning pale, but she did not tremble.
"What are you doing with that
boy?"
II am teaching him to read. papa"
The little girls tones did not falter,
thot,gh she was horribly frightened.
''Teachif1g him to read!" the count
was so furious tlzat his voice trembled.
Back with you to the chateau.yon
wicked child, and I will settle with
you later. But you, you base-born,
insolent peasant, l will lash you like
the hound you are!' He raised his
riding whip, but Blanche seized it and
confronted him with a pale face and
flashing eyes.
"You shall not strike him, papa"
she cried. II made him come. He
dared not refuse. If you strike any
one, strike me, for did it.
Andre through his whole life never
forgot that picture. The man with
his face convnlsed by fury, the little
girl looking up with her brave eyes,
ready and willing to suffer in his stead.
After minute the Count seemed to
recover himself.
go away from here, boy" he cried,
"for if ever meet you again Vill cut
of your ears and your tongue! You
to want to learn! Bahv'
This was no idle threat at that time
tn France. The grand Seigneurs had
the liberty OF mutiiating, or even kill
ing their vassals at their own free will,
and the boy knew that his fathers
house was no longer safe for him.
But his thirst for knowledge, begun
by the lessons of his little mistress.
led him to Jesuit college, where his
uncle, q priest, was one OF the pro-
fessors. There he remained for six
years, while the tbunders of the great
Revolution were growing in the dis
tance.
When Andre left college, the guillo-
tine had already cut off many OF the
greatest and noblest names in France.
His education and ability and hatred
of aristoracy soon secured him a posi-
ton OF confidence with Potion, one OF
the Revolutionary leaders.
Andre shudderel at the blOOdshed
and violence which had turned France
into but cher's shambles, but then
he dreamed that the outcome would
be liberty =!
He had heard that the Chateau OF
Beaujolais had been burnt to the
ground, and the count and his daugh-
ter had escaped. Where the count had
gone he knew not and cared less; but
he knew that Blanche had been con-
cealed by old Theriot, his father, who
had been loyal to his young mistress
in ner hour OF peril. He had never
seen her since that fateful day when
they had been surprised by her father,
but his gratitude and almost adora.
ton had never lessened. One day iii
Petion's Office, he overheard n few
wo: DIS which made his heart beat fast
$50 that old satan, De Maupas-
SAINT, is in the last batch OF prisoners?
They will all kiss the basket at noon
today"
"Good!" Potion answered; "has
the viper any brood?"
Gone daughter, rs handsome and
insolent as an aristocrate can be-
She is hiding, they say, with one OF
her old servants; bnt that blood
hound Caresse goes in search of her
tomorrow. He never fails, Caresse
does not, and she will be in La Force
before twenty-four hours"
As soon as the visitor left, Andre
presented himself before Potion.
General" he said, 81 want pass
to absent myself for several days, ami
to go where l wish. Give me one,
too, at the same time, for my sister.
"Aha, Theriot, of course, my boy!
Something for the good of the State,
helm? Good patriot that you are!
Describe your sister, and let Niccl
there draw up the passes"
have no space to tell of Andres
journey to Beaujolais, and how, in
disguise, Blanche escaped with him to
the nearest seaport, where he took
passage for her in a vessel bound for
America. Andre had a cousin settled
on the Teche in louisiana, and it was
to these humble folk the Countess do
| Maupassant was going.
"Farewell, mademoiselle," said the
young man, as they stood together
on the deck of the vessel "You have
money for your present wants, and ]
will forward more to you: Perhaps,
too, may come and see you"
Blanche raised her face all stream
ing with tears.
"Come with me now, Andre!" She
cried, in her>old impetuous manner.
"How can go alone, alone to a
strange land?"
He went Two years after this, tie
young Countess married the garden
er's son, and their union was q happy